DeNovo Controlling Legal Costs
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Transcript of DeNovo Controlling Legal Costs
LEGAL COSTS CONSULTANTS
Controlling Legal Costs
DeNovo | Controlling Legal Costs
• Billing for time in excess of what was actually
spent
• Duplicate time charges
• Over-staffing - proper utilisation of personnel
(e.g. unauthorised multiple attendance;
multiple drafting and revision of documents;
billing for supervision; multiple fee earners
billing for document preparation; excessive
file reviews; fee earners billing for performing
secretarial or non-fee earning work)
• Recycled work product - billing more than one
case or client for the same hours spent
• Inefficient procedures (e.g. cryptic invoice
descriptions; excessive minimum time charges;
bundling of described functions)
• Rounding of time charges
• Charging for overheads without prior
agreement (e.g. routine postage, local travel,
office supplies, telecoms, etc.)
• Mark-up on costs such as Lexis/Westlaw,
expert witnesses, external consultants, etc.
Why examineyour lawyers’ fees?
To prevent over billing a
client should be prepared to
examine its lawyers’ invoices.
Invoices for professional
services should fairly reflect
the basis on which the
charges have been agreed.
Examples of issues addressed
during an audit include,
but are not limited to, the
following:
LEGAL COSTS CONSULTANTS
www.denovolaw.co.uk
• Are the fees reasonable?
• Do they comply with ethical, legal, and other
billing policies?
• Is the law firm acting cost-effectively?
• Is the law firm’s staffing appropriate?
• Is the law firm’s work product satisfactory?
• Are the firm’s performance and results in
detailed costs assessments acceptable?
• We can assist in the development and
implementation of effective billing guidelines
• We are experts in costs litigation and are
qualified to conduct all costs related litigation
before the Supreme Court Costs Office.
Our consultants can perform reviews of
the subject law firm’s file, comparing the
file contents against invoices submitted for
payment. We will analyse billing against client
guidelines, customary and reasonable billing
standards, and relevant case law. The audit will
determine the reasonableness and necessity of
the charges, verify that the work product billed
is reflected in the file and verify documentation
of costs and expenses.
Ourservice
DeNovo (London) Limited
provides audit services by
trained and experienced legal
costs consultants. We can
also assist in the development
of effective billing guidelines
which will provide for
significant savings, improve
communications and
ensure transparency and
accountability. We review
lawyers’ bills, including work
product, fees, and expenses.
Bills can be reviewed shortly
after they are issued by the
firm for prompt feedback or
after the matter has closed. A
review can be made with or
without the knowledge and
co-operation of the law firm.
Tailored to the client’s budget
and needs, reviews address
such questions as:
LEGAL COSTS CONSULTANTS
DeNovo | Controlling Legal Costs
MICHAEL HESLIN
A double law graduate, Michael has prepared
and advanced several of the largest and most
complex costs claims ever seen in the UK,
running into tens of millions of pounds, and for
some years was retained by Kuwait Airways
Corporation in relation to all of their legal
costs issues arising out of their billion dollar
claim against Iraqi Airways Company. Michael’s
experience in massive scale inter partes costs
claims is unsurpassed. He has given expert
evidence on lawyers’ costs in the High Court
and has represented his clients on numerous
occasions in the Supreme Court.
AFQAR DEAN
Afqar has worked at several major City law
firms. He is a Fellow of the Association of Law
Costs Draftsmen and in July 2007 became
one of the first cost consultants to be granted
rights of audience. Afqar is vastly experienced
particularly so in the areas of solicitor-client
disputes and all issues relating to commercial,
media and libel legal costs. Afqar has dealt with
costs issues for many prominent MPs, sports
stars and celebrities. Both he and Michael have
advised on costs on many headline commercial
and intellectual property costs cases.
About us
Our directors have more
than 20 years’ experience in
scrutinising lawyers’ costs,
both for the purpose of
advancing claims for litigation
costs and in disputes over
costs and expenses between
lawyers and their clients.
We have been retained
by solicitors and private
clients alike either to attack
or defend lawyers’ fees
ranging from the relatively
low value and routine to
some of the largest legal
costs claims ever seen in this
jurisdiction. We at DeNovo
have scrutinised more than
£1. billion in lawyers’ fees and
disbursements, resulting in
savings of tens of millions of
pounds.
LEGAL COSTS CONSULTANTS
DeNovo | www.denovolaw.co.uk
FIND US…
99 Bishopsgate London EC2M 3XD
CONTACT US…
T +44 (0)20 3693 7186 (General)
T +44 (0)20 3693 7187 (Michael Heslin)
T +44 (0)20 3693 7185 (Afqar Dean)
F +44 (0)20 3693 7176
www.denovolaw.co.uk
LEGAL COSTS CONSULTANTS